TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State’s Uplifting Athletes Chapter held its inaugural Lift For Life fundraising event last Friday at the Albert J. Dunlap Training Facility to help raise awareness and research dollars for Fanconi anemia, through the Kidz1stFund.

The Seminoles’ Lift For Life event is the signature fundraiser for the Uplifting Athletes nationwide network of 25 college football student-athlete led chapters.

Nearly the entire FSU football team participated in the weight lifting competition between the offense and defense. Various events took place from flipping tires, pushing cars and sleds, to a tug-of-war finale.

“We have a really competitive team,” redshirt senior tight end Kevin Haplea said. “Guys like to get after each other just like in practice. When something is on the line — win or lose — the guys get very competitive.”

Florida State’s Chapter was founded in 2013 by Haplea. The chapter supports head coach Jimbo Fisher‘s foundation, Kidz1st Fund, by donating all the money it raises to the foundation in support of Fanconi anemia.

The Lift For Life event helped raise over $2,700 at the door and $14,725 online for the Kidz1st Fund.

“It is definitely a proud moment,” Haplea said. “It’s really cool to see how much you can accomplish just by doing your part and pulling your own weight.”

Kidz1st Fund was founded in 2011 by Jimbo and Candi Fisher after the couple’s youngest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with the rare disease.

“For Candi and I, it’s tremendous,” Fisher said. “It amazes me the way these kids can be. Especially when kids have so many things to do today — their time is so demanding. For them to come out and help my family and other children like this, words can’t explain it.”

You can help join the efforts by going to UpliftingAthletes.org and clicking on Florida State’s chapter.